Shirin no Kami

Chapter 11: Envious Hunter

            Sakura and Syaoran were cleaning their clothes since today was so peaceful. The sky danced with birds on the clouds and the breeze was ideal for spending a day out. The stream carried pristine clear waters; even the dirtiest rat could drink the blessed water and clean itself from a single sip. And thus, this was the perfect time and place for Sakura and Syaoran to do some laundry. Syaoran was rubbing out the stains of his brown robe on a grainy rock. His sleeves and pant legs were rolled up while the sun glisten water drops dripping off of his legs and arms.

            Sakura was washing her brown vest and white skirt in the stream. The water passing through the small fibers and soaking it wet. She then spread it out beside her and pinned it upon a line so it could dry, right beside a blue vest that was already dry. She took it off the line and put it on, covering her belly on the sides. "Today is so great," she relaxed, picking up her basket, "I just love days like these."

            Syaoran was wringing the water out of his pants, "Yes," he stated, "Such a beautiful day." The breeze lightly messed up his hair a bit, "I wonder where Yue and Kero are." Syaoran looked into the sky, trying to see if one of them was flying through the sky. "It's strange," he asked suspiciously, "Usually Yue or Kero are flying through the sky patrolling the skies. Why not today?" Sakura picked up her basket and grabbed Syaoran's hand, walking away for their clothes to dry. "Maybe they are busy doing something."

            The scene was very picturesque: Sakura and Syaoran walking hand in hand, looking like two innocent kids walking in the field. Syaoran felt like he was in heaven, he held on to Sakura's hand tighter, but as he kept on walking, something in his subconscious began to tell him something was terribly wrong. "Sakura?" he asked, "Do you feel something funny?" Sakura thought about it for a second, wondering what the uneasy feeling was as they kept on walking through the thick trees. "Something is terribly wrong," she stated, "I cannot tell what it is though."

            "Syaoran! Sakura!" Kero called flying in from above, "Yue and I found something terribly wrong deep in the forest." Sakura gave a concerned face, "Oh my gosh! Where? What happened?" Kero shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know," his disappointment becoming apparent, "All I know is that Yue and I are investigating this manner, and we might need you to help us out Syaoran." "Syaoran?" Sakura asked, "Why him? Why not me?"

            "It's something Syaoran should look at," Kero said, "Because there is message written to him." Concerned, Syaoran stepped over and got on Kero's back, "Let's go!" he said, "I need to see this to believe it." Sakura ran up to Kero and was about to jump on. Suddenly, Syaoran stuck out his hand, permitting her from coming any closer. "This is not safe Sakura," he said. Sakura stamped her feet as Kero began to fly away, giving a sour face as they flew away, "But I'm the guardian!" she cried out, "I belong there! Hey are you guys listening to me?" They were already gone; the only sound Sakura could hear is the sound of the chirping birds. "Hmph!" she pouted, crossing her shoulders, "This is so unfair!"

            Sakura turned her head away, angry and disappointed. However, the moment she turned around, she noticed something odd about the tree in front of her. She stepped closer, trying to get a good look at the odd tree, seeing something stuck into its trunk really hard. Somehow, she managed to pry out a hard rock, almost embedded into the tree. "Who did this?" she asked. Suddenly, she heard a rustle in the tree above her and she quickly snapped back, throwing out a rock up in the tree.

            Five leaves shed off the tree from the rock strike, slowly descending to the ground. Sakura looked at the leaves, floating their way down to the ground gradually. All of the sudden, a hand popped out, catching all the leaves in the hand. It was perfect; Sakura saw the hand with so much grace, catching a single leaf between each of his digits. Sakura's mouth gaped open, finally seeing the person who tried to ambush her. In the blink of an eye, the hand threw the leaves towards her with speed and dead on accuracy. Sakura gasped, she certainly didn't want to get hit by the sharp bladed leaves. Finding the nearest tree, she quickly hid behind it, having the tree take cover for her. The sound of laughter filled the air.

"Ha ha ha! Great job! That was a warning shot, think you can take me?" Sakura slowly peeked her head around the tree, trying to see the source of the voice. "Oh you won't find me!" he taunted, "I can get you, but you can't get me." Sakura searched around for the nearest tree where she could hide. She peeked her head out again, seeing if the coast was clear. Sakura quickly dashed toward the next tree. FWWT! The sound of a sharp card struck Sakura in the cheek as she ran and made a tiny slice on her cheek. Sakura hid behind the tree again and touched her face, wiping the blood off her cheek. "Who is this guy?" she questioned herself, "He must be the one causing trouble in this forest." Sakura reached down into the dirt, grabbing a hold of a stubby wooden stick popping out of the ground. "I promised I would protect 'Spirit Forest'," a huge bow was pulled out from the ground, "And I'll do that!"

Sakura took out a set of arrows she had hid inside the tree and slung the packet around her shoulder. "I have to make a distraction."

It was horrible. Syaoran, Kero, and Yue stared at a dead spirit lying on the ground. Syaoran saw the scorched earth beneath her and sadly kneeled down next to her. "May you rest in peace," he said sincerely, "Who could've done this?" Yue pulled out a card with a design of a cherry blossom on it; Syaoran took it from his hand and examined the card. "Anything you know about this?" Yue interrogated, "That was found on the spirit the moment we found her." Syaoran looked at the card questionably. "What is this?" he asked himself examining the card carefully.

"What does this mean?" Syaoran turned the card around and saw the pictures of the cherry blossoms. "Cherry blossoms?" Syaoran thought about it for a moment, having the words repeat in his mind. "OH NO!" Syaoran dropped the card and ran away from the scene. "What is it?" Kero asked. But it was too late, Syaoran was gone.

Sakura picked up a rock on the ground and threw it. As soon as the rock was airborne, a card hit it and cracked it into tiny pebbles. "You think that can provide you a distraction?" the voice shouted, "They call me dead shot; I've never missed any targets." A card shot out from the side of the tree, slashing Sakura's shoulder as it cut through the bark. "Ah!" Sakura screamed clutching her shoulder, "This guy is a dead shot!" Sakura tried to stop the blood coursing out of her arm; she ripped off a shred of her skirt, tying the cloth around her arm really tightly.

"Listen!" she yelled, "I don't know who you are! But you aren't a dead shot. I was born and raised here in 'Spirit Forest' and I'll protect it!" Sakura screamed again as another arrow came from the other side of the tree and cut a bit of her other shoulder. She winced and clutched her shoulder again. "You filthy wench!" the voice insulted, "Let's see you protect 'Spirit Forest' now with your two injured arms." Sakura sucked up the pain, and pulled back an arrow on her bow, she didn't want to peek out, as that would result in a shot to her again. Instead, she aimed her arrow at an angle, towards a far away tree.

"Come out!" the man shouted coming out of his hiding place, "Let me see you before I kill you for my Master Greed." Envy, the assailant, aimed one of his cards toward the tree where Sakura was hiding. "I can wait here all day." Sakura took a deep breath, and held her bow steadily, "Here goes!" Sakura ran out, Envy's target locked on, he flicked his card toward Sakura, perfect aim as usual. Envy waited for the card to hit, Sakura ran for her life aiming the arrow as she was running. The card inched closer to Sakura's face, in a matter of seconds, the card would kill her instantly. She immediately perked her neck back. Amazingly, the card barely missed her cheek.

The card missed! Envy missed! "How could I miss?" he asked with his mouth and eyes gaping wide open. Sakura aimed carefully and let her arrow fly. Envy, still dazed from his missed shot, barely dodged the arrow, cutting his left cheek. "I missed?" he asked furiously, "I also got hit?" Sakura snared at him, Envy stared back into her eyes with utter discontent. "No one has ever hit me before!" Envy angrily glared at Sakura, "You'll pay! I'll never have anyone take my title of 'dead shot'!"

Sakura began to get a bit worried, she quickly ran for cover at the nearest tree. This time, Envy was charging towards her, throwing his cards at her as he got closer. Sakura dodged his first attack and shot another one of her arrows. Envy tried to dodge the arrow but it ended up driving into his left arm. He screamed in pain as the arrow made his arm completely useless. "I'll get you yet!" he shouted shooting out another card. Sakura ran away from the card and it cut off a bit of her hair.

Sakura fired off another arrow at him, this time aiming at his right leg. Envy stepped on the arrow as he ran over it. "I've got you now!" Envy charged and swung at Sakura, trying to knock her in the head. Sakura ducked and rolled behind him. Envy was confused for a second, the blood coursing out of his arm began to haze his vision, he couldn't see Sakura anywhere. Sakura smartly used this opportunity to find cover behind another tree. "Where are you hiding?" Envy's vision began to haze up even more as he looked around for Sakura. Sakura readied another arrow in her bow. As soon as Envy had his back turned, she would shoot the arrow straight into his heart.

"Where are y--" Envy stopped as he saw Sakura's shadow on the tree in front of him, "Nice try!" he complimented, "But you can't get me that easily!" Envy saw a tree to the right. Using his keen skills, he aimed his card at an angle and flicked it towards the tree. The card ricocheted off the tree. Sakura heard his miss and peeked out, aiming her arrow straight at Envy. "You're mine!" she shouted. Envy just gave her a smile as he stood in shooting distance of her arrow.

Suddenly, the card which ricocheted off the tree, bounced off and hit Sakura in the back of her calf. The card dug deep into her calf, making her collapse and scream in pains of agony. Sakura clutched her leg and screamed for dear life. Envy looked at the curled up body of Sakura, clutching her leg. "That'll teach you!" he said, "No one crosses Master Greed!" "What about me?" Syaoran came out of nowhere and tackled Envy to the ground, "You scum!" he shouted, "First you attack that poor helpless spirit, then you attack Sakura. What are you trying to pull?"

Envy popped out another sharp card from up his sleeve, "For Master Greed!" he shouted, trying to slash him with the sharp card edge. Syaoran dodged the slash attempt and threw him at a tree. Envy's body collided with the tree hard! Syaoran quickly turned around and saw Sakura all curled up and clutching her bleeding leg. "Sakura!" he shouted out, "I'm so sorry I'm this late! Are you okay?" Sakura was still screaming in pain from the card, Syaoran quickly pulled it out, stopping her from screaming in agony.

"I'm sorry Sakura!" he apologized as he ripped off his sleeve and tied it tightly over Sakura's wound, "I should've been here." Sakura felt much better, she managed to push her upper body up to stare at Syaoran directly in his amber eyes. Envy got up, he stared at Sakura and Syaoran looking at each other, his eyes began to swell with tears, he began to feel a bit jealous. "Syaoran," she cried, "Thank you!" It didn't matter what was happening anymore, Sakura hugged Syaoran tightly for comfort. Syaoran hugged back with extreme content and reassurance, "It's ok Sakura!" he said softly, "I'm here, no one will hurt you anymore!"

"No!" Envy said in disbelief, "Why?" he asked, "Why doesn't Master Greed treat me so?" Envy stared at Syaoran and Sakura still hugging and got even more jealous. "Why won't he love me so?" Envy got furious and charged, "It's all your fault Syaoran!" Syaoran heard his name and turned back; Envy's fist met his face and knocked him away from Sakura. "Syaoran!" Sakura cried. Envy strangled Syaoran and pushed him to the ground, continuing to choke off his air supply, "I'll kill you!" Envy threatened, Syaoran struggling as he gasped for air, "I'll kill you to make Master Greed happy, then he will finally see me and return my love. Greed, you won't regret this! I'll kill Syaoran! Ha ha ha ha! Ugh-"

Envy stopped laughing as Sakura's arrow squarely hit him in the heart, he let go of Syaoran. "Master Greed." Envy struggled as he fell back, ".I will always be your loyal servant. Farewell!" Envy hit the ground, finally dying. Syaoran coughed, wheezing for air after his neck was strangled. Sakura crawled up next to him and patted him on the back. "Are you okay Syaoran?" she asked with a face of concern. "I'm fine!" he replied, "Are you okay?" Sakura nodded. "Thank goodness."

Syaoran stood up, grabbing Sakura by the hand and pulling her up to stand. "Ow!" she cried, "My leg!" Syaoran supported her by placing her arm around his shoulder, "It'll be alright!" he reassured. "Syaoran!" she hugged him tightly again, crying in his chest, "It's my fault. He wanted me to get to you. I'm so sorry!" Syaoran lightly patted her on the shoulders. He lightly cupped her chin and gave her a reassuring stare. "I'm sorry I wasn't here with you!" he apologized, "You could've died because of me." Sakura sadly turned away from him and looked at Envy's dead body, "I want to go home Syaoran!"

            Syaoran picked her up in his arms and began to carry her away silently. The silence grabbed her until she gradually fell asleep in his arms. "I'm sorry Sakura!" he apologized again, "It was all my fault!" Syaoran took one last look at Envy's body. He gave him a look of pity, a piteous look which showed sympathy for his sad life of servitude. Syaoran walked away from the scene, letting Envy to rot in the middle of the forest.

"Oh Envy! Envy! Envy!" Greed said in the silence of the night, "You always were very loyal, but sadly your heart always got in the way." Greed's sick smile reflected off of Envy, or what was left of him, "Your accuracy is a nice little thing to add to my collection." As Greed's hand approached Envy's head, pulling out his 'green' eye. "This is the sin of envy," he stated, "Their green eyes always blind them from getting the task at hand done." Greed gulped down the sin in his mouth. "Thank you Envy! You've been really great! Enjoy an eternity of torment in hell!" Greed gave a mocking salute to the dead Envy as his body began to fade away, "Farewell, you blind fool!"